Healthy Wellesley

Healthy Wellesley is a wellness initiative. Its mission is to promote a healthy lifestyle, identify the bounty of health and fitness resources in Wellesley, and present programming to positively affect the health of residents across the age spectrum.

Grant Funding

The towns of Needham and Wellesley received a mini-grant award for three years (2007 to 2010) from the West Suburban Community Health Network (CHNA 18), to enhance the efforts of the Eat Well/Be Fit Committee in Needham, and examine whether replication of this model in Wellesley could help the Health Department forge new partnerships with town departments (i.e. the schools, youth commission, recreation, council on aging, natural resources commission/trails committee, and animal control), Newton-Wellesley Hospital, as well as businesses and organizations grappling with childhood, adult and senior obesity and healthy lifestyle issues.

Out of this exploration, the Healthy Wellesley Initiative was borne. Many successful events, classes, campaigns, workshops and seminars were introduced, several of which have been repeated. The Healthy Wellesley Initiative continued after conclusion of the grant. Healthy Wellesley is now a known entity in the community, and its programs are highly regarded and anticipated.

Events, Classes & Workshops

Healthy Wellesley events, classes, workshops have included:

Strive for Five (community-wide fruit and vegetable of the month initiative)

Healthy Wellesley Resource Guide

Healthy Cooking for One or Two (cooking classes)

Tots and Tails on Trails Walk

Organic Land Care Display

Speakers (including Gary Marino of the Million Calorie March)

Finding Time for Fitness, Food and Fun...for Busy Parents on the Run (workshop)

Making Healthy Eating Happen Workshop Summary

On Wednesday, April 9, 2014 Nutritionist and Natural Foods Chef Sue Levy of Savory Living led a workshop co-sponsored by Wellesley Health Department and Wellesley Free Library on how to make healthy eating happen (PDF), especially during mid-life. Sue presented tips and tools to make informed food choices, avoid common food traps, move beyond a diet and provided ideas to build an enjoyable, sustainable and delicious approach to eating well.

Perimenopause & Menopause

Everything you wanted to know about Perimenopause and Menopause but were afraid to ask! Are you entering or fully engulfed in mid-life? Are you wondering what’s happening to your body and mind? Chances are you are experiencing the effects of perimenopause or menopause. Learn about the facts and fiction of this subject from women’s health expert Dr. Ronee Skornik, Obstetrician-Gynecologist at Women’s Health Associates in Wellesley.

This program took place March 21, 2013 and was fantastic! To obtain information and resources from the workshop, please email Cheryl Lefman.

Healthy Brain

Staying Sane, Maintaining a Healthy Brain was presented on May 17, 2012. Presenter Leslie Worris provided excellent information and resources on how to keep your brain healthy at any age. She focused on the importance of staying hydrated and eating a balanced, nutritious diet. Leslie provided a list of helpful websites (PDF).